As Kitchen 17 moves around the corner in Lakeview into a larger space, another vegan eatery will take over the soon-to-be vacated space. Heather Bodine-Lederman hopes to open Chicagos first all-vegan bakery, Pie, Pie My Darling, by August at 613 W. Briar Place. The news has already put a smile on many faces. Vegans have stood in line for hours at pop-up markets trying to procure one of the bakerys popular pies or cakes.

Bodine-Lederman uses canola oil, non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening and non-dairy butter substitutes like Earth Balance to avoid eggs and dairy products in her baked goods: I find that butter can sometimes weighs the cake down a bit, she said.

She started out concentrating on pies, but has expanded to cakes, including cheesecakes. When the bakery opens, she wants to make cookies, breakfast pastries, cake and pie shakes, and savory pies. Bodine-Lederman envisions selling grab-and-go items, too.

Right now, the bakerys most-popular item is Funfetti cake. The sprinkles give customers of all ages a child-like feeling, and thats Bodine-Ledermans goalto bring back memories. The space will be remodeled and will feature a totally-new decor. Theyll also serve coffee.

Chicagos vegan community can be a close-knit group, and Bodine-Lederman met Kitchen 17 owner Don Clements two years ago at Vegan Vortex. Thats the vegan festival where Pie, Pie My Darling was a vendor. Clements offered his space to Bodine-Lederman back then, as he had plans to move to a larger restaurant. Bodine-Lederman hopes she can bake for the new Kitchen 17, offering fancy desserts that would be exclusively available at the new restaurant.

While Clements struggles with the oven space at Kitchen 17, Bodine-Lederman said thats not a worry as theyll install new equipment. Bodine-Lederman also wants to broaden her audience to non-vegans. She still relishes how her baked goods make her fellow vegans happy. Few restaurants and bakeries offer vegan choices, and theyre often subpar. That wont be a problem at Pie, Pie My Darling.

I want a bakery that vegans can walk into and have to struggle with what to choose because theres so many choices, she said.

Theyre touting this as Chicagos first all-vegan bakery. Restaurants such as Soul Vegetarian East on the South Side have been selling vegan baked goods for years, but Pie, Pie My Darling has more of traditional bakery/cafe component.

VegNews was the first to report the story.

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Chicago's First All-Vegan Bakery Will Sell Pies & Cakes In Lakeview - Eater Chicago